Salt shaker



Nov. 27, 1934. H. c. GESSLER SALT SHAKER Filed June 5, 1935 VENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SALT SHAKER Harry 0. Gessler, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 3, 1933, Serial No. 674,131

1 Claim, (CI. 65-45) This invention relates to salt shakers or simia clogging condition of the salt. By this invenlar dispensing devices. tion, I have endeavored to overcome these con.-

One object of the invention is to provide a ditions. device of the character described having lm- Referring in detail to the drawing, denotes 5" proved means for preventing foreign substances, a dispenser such as a salt shaker embodying the co and especially liquids from dropping into the invention. The same may include any conusual upward opening outlets. tainer 11 having a discharging means 12. The

Another object of the invention is to furnish latter may desirably be embodied in a closure a device of the nature set forth having improved structure which may be in the general nature 10 means to facilitate discharge of a pulverulent of a cap, for example, and which may have an 65 material. annular threaded flange 13 for removable screw A further object of the invention is to conengagement with a threaded neck portion 14 of struct a device of the class alluded to having the container.

relatively few and simple parts, preferably none Extending upward from said flange 13 is a 15 of which is movable in operation, and which generally frusto-conical tubular element or wall 70 parts are easily accessible for inspection and 15 whose smaller end is uppermost. Formed in cleaning, and which device is inexpensive to angularly spaced relation along said wall are a manufacture, neat in appearance, durable, replurality of discharge openings which may inliable, and efiicient in use. clude an upper series of openings 16 and a lower Other objects and advantages of the invenseries of openings 17. The openings 16 are pref- 75 tion will become apparent as the specification erably located in close proximity to the upper proceeds. end of the conoidal wall 15.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the inven- Extending upward from said wall 15 is a gention consists in the novel combinations and arerally uniform frustro-conical member 18 of in- 2:; rangements of parts hereinafter described in verted form, alined with the wall 15, and having so their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the its lower end preferably continuously connected subjoined claim, and illustrated on the annexed with the wall 15 along the circular line 19 dedrawing, wherein like parts are designated by the fined by the intersecting conoidal surfaces. The same reference characters throughout the sevdiameter of the upper end 20 of the member 18 is eral views. sufficiently large to cause the member to sub- In the drawing: stantially overlie the openings 16,17 in open Figure 1 is a view in front elevation with parts spaced relation thereabove. The diameter at 20 in section showing a device embodying the inis generally as great and preferably greater than vention. that of the zone or tubular portion in which the Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in insaid openings are located, the member 18 being, verted position showing the invention in modimoreover, located in central relation in said zone fled form. and within the series of outlet openings.

The advantages of the invention as here out- A top disc or wall 21 may be connected circumlined are best realized when all of its features ferentially to the wall 18 to form a closed end 40 and instrumentalities are combined in one for the closure means. If desired, said wall 21 and the same structure, but, useful devices may may be in the shape of a spherical segment. be produced embodying less than the whole. Located within the closure means and central- It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to ly in the region of the outlet openings, is a which this invention appertains, that the same downward projecting means which may include 45 may be incorporated in several different conan inverted generally conoidal member 22, that structions. The accompanying drawing, theremay, if desired, have an annular flange 23 exfore, is submitted merely as showing the pretending along the inside of the member 18 for ferred exemplification of the invention. locking member 22 in position. The member I have observed that salt shakers, especially 22 is preferably imperforate, and is continuously 50 as used in cafeterias, are frequently unsanitary, engaged along a circular line 24 with that part as dust and the like enters the outlet openings of the closure at the line 19. The member 22 and settles on the salt shaker in the region of constitutes generally a projection at the elevasaid openings. Sometimes, in handling liquids, tion of the upper series of openings 16, and exsuch as coffee, a drop thereof falls upon the salt tends toward the container 11.

55 shaker at said openings and tends to produce In Fig. 2 is shown a modification 25 of the invention wherein all the parts are the same as in the device 10, except that the conoidal projection 22a has a greater altitude, and may thus extend clear through the region of the outlets 16, 17 and in relative proximity to the neck 14 of the container. The portion 22a may lie in the same plane as the flange 23.

According tothe device disclosed herein, the parts 13, 15, 18 and 21 may severally and in different combinations be of one piece construction, and as shown in the drawing they may all be integral. Likewise the parts 22, 23 may be integral with each other.

a backing or reenforcernent, and with the flange 23 abutting the end wall 21 in a rigid manner.

The manner of operation of the device will now be: described. In" the. normal upright position,

thereof as shownin Fig. 1, the outletopenings 16, 17 are. protected againstany foreign-solids or ,liquids, dropping thereinto or upon the/wall 15,

so, that the salt or, other material to be dispensed is not contaminated, and any clogging due to liquids minimizedor. wholly prevented. This device is therefore particularly adapted to be used ,in cafeterias, where the same is handled by a great many people, and oftentimes under-crowded circumstances. When a quantity of salt is desired, the shaker is tilted or inverted in the usual manner, the salt S whichdischarges through the openings 16, 17 passing downward along the conoidal surface of the member 18, which aids in conoidal wall provided with outlet openings, and

distributing the salt.

The invention has further advantages in re- ,,member 15 to control and cause a gradual movement of the salt towardsaid outlets, and yet without restricting such movementv unduly or creating obstacles or resisting the movement. Furthermore, since the upper series of openings 16 is in relatively close proximity ofthe members,

"22,220, and particularly the lower ends of said members, in the invertedposition, a flow of the fine particles of salt tothe outlets is assured,even of large cakedv if there are a considerable number lumps in the salt shaker.

In manufacturing the device, an element is first made consisting of the parts 22, 23 or 22a, 23, said element being" then inserted into a suitable tubular structure, which is thereafter spun to form the angle between the members 15 and 16, with said element. acting as Due to the angularity openings 16 and 17, in the inverted position of the device, present their lower edges to the salt so as to cause an effective dividing or severing action on any caked particles of salt and thus to assure a flow of salt from the device.

of the wall 15, the outlet It will be appreciated that the angle of each of the members 15, 18 and 22 may, within the scope of the invention, be varied from zero to 180 degrees with the horizontal plane, although the drawing shows preferably an angle of approximately 60 degrees for member 15, an angle of approximately 45 degrees for the member 18, whilemember 22 is at an angle of approximately 15 degrees, and member 22a at an angle of approximately .45 degrees.

The closure means 12 may be made of any suitable material such as thin sheet metal, which may beplated or otherwise treated to render the same 'rustproof. There are preferably no movable parts, although this is not of the essence of the invention. The space 26 in the closure is may require cleaning are readily accessible;

. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made in the device as shown in the drawing, and that the same is submitted in.

an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being definedin the following claim.

I claim: y

-In a salt shaker having a container provided with an upper open end, a closure therefor including a tubular element of generally conoidal form and. having means at its larger end for connection with the container, said element having its an; inverted 'conoidal shield having its side wall connected at its smaller end to the upper endof said element in alined relation therewith, said shield. having a closed wall at its upper larger end, said closed wall being permanently connected to theside wall of the shield along an edge of the upper end thereof, said edge being of substantially equal diameter, with that of the larger end 3 of the tubular element, the side wall of the shield i completely closed on all sides, and the parts which V being substantially straight and the shield overlyingthe outlet openings and constituting a 

